Machine for breaking flax



open.

UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. NAYLOR, ()F LAMBERTVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINFE FOR BREAKING l-LAX, 80C.

SPECIIEIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,942, dated October 4, 1881. Application filed June 16, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. NAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lambertville, in the county of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Breaking Flax, &c.,'of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for breaking flax, the object being to provide an im- :proved feed and brake mechanism; and the invention consists, first, in-the combination, with a stationary frame and brake-rollers jour-r naled therein, of a sliding carriage provided laterally-on its upper face with racks adapted to engage with gear-wheels on the shaft of the upper brake-roller and thereby operate said rollers; second, in the combination, with a stationary frame composed of a horizontal and vertical portion, in which are mounted suitable brake-rollers, of upper and lower feed-rollers, the latter mounted on shafts carrying at their outer ends suitable gears adapted to engage with racks on the lower face of a sliding carriage, andfeed belts or hands passing vertically and horizontally over said'rollers at each end of the machine and attached to the carriage, whereby a constant support is afforded to the flax-straw; and, third, in certain details of construction, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 3 a top View.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

A represents the horizontal stationary frame or bed of the machine, which is rectangular in form and may be made either close-boxed or This frame supports at the center the upright frameA, which affords a bearing for the grooved or fluted brake-rollers B B, that may be made of metal or hard wood, as desired. The shaft of the upper brake-roller, B, projects through the frame A, and carries at each end a gear-wheel, 0,-which engages with a rack, a, on the upper edge of the sliding car; riage D, and by which said roller is operated. The shaft of the lower brake-roller, B, is journaled in adjustable bearings b b, which are connected by rods 0.0 with springs d 61, attached to the'cross-piece A The lower brake-roller is thus rendered self-adjusting, so that it may be raised or depressed to accommodate itself to the quantity of flax passed between it and the upper roller. These rollers are arranged in contact with each other, so that the lower roller is operated by friction from the upper roller.

The top of the carriage D is recessed or slotted longitudinally for the passage of the vertical frame A, and is provided laterally on each upper edge, as before described, with a rack, a, that en gages with the gear-Wheel C. It is also provided on each side, at its lower edge, with a similar rack, e, that engages with the gearwheels E E on the shafts of the lower belt or feed rollers, F F, which are journaled in the horizontal bed-frame A, and by means of which said feed-rollers are opera ted. Each feed-roller F is also connected with the carriage D by a band'or belt, F, of canvas, cloth, rubber, or other similar material, which passes vertically upward and over a small roller, f, journaled in the frame A, and thence horizontally toward the end of the slot or opening in the carriage where it is attached.

The small rollers ff being located on a plane with and close to the front of contact between the brake-rollers B B, it will be observed that the feed belts or bands F F are thus enabled to furnish a constant support to the flax-straw during its passage back and forth between said rollers.

The sliding carriage D is caused to reciprocate by means of any suitable power, applied through a connecting-rod or through the lever G. In its movement back and forth it rests upon friction-rollers g 9, let into the frame A, by which its facility of movement is greatly increased, with a corresponding economy of 9 power.

The flax to be treated is laid upon the feed- I belt F at the end of the machine, opposite the point where power is applied. As the carriage D reciprocates, the racks e, engaging with the gears E E, alternately wind and unwind the opposite belts F upon their respective rollers F, thus holding the belts at a proper tension.

The flax-straw is passed, at each movement of the carriage, back and forth between the brake-rollers B B the adj ustability of the lower roller being such that it readily accommodates itself to varying quantities of material, so that the flax-straw is held in close contact with the brake-rollers, between which it thus passes back and forth until thoroughly broken.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a flax-brake, the combination, with a stationary frame and brake-rollers journaled therein, of a sliding carriage provided laterally on its upper face with racks adapted to engage with gear-wheels on the shaft of the upper brake-roller, and thereby operate said rollers, substantially as described.

2. In a flax-brake, the combination of the stationary frame A A, brakerollers B B, the lower roller journaled in adjustable bearings b I), provided with rods 0 0 and springs d d, gear-wheels O G on the shaft of the upper roller, and the sliding carriage D, havingracks a a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a flax-brake, the combination, with a stationary frame composed of a horizontal and vertical portion, in which are mounted suitable brake-rollers, of upper and lower feed-rollers, the latter mounted on shafts carrying at their outer ends suitable gear-wheels, adapted to en gage with racks on the lower face ofa sliding carriage, and feed belts or hands passing vertically and horizontally over said rollers at each end of the machine, and attached to the earriage, whereby a constant support is afforded to the flax-straw, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a flaxbrake, the combination of the frame A A, provided with friction-rollers g g, sliding carriage D, having racks we, upper and lower rollers, B B, the latter journaled in adjustable bearings, gear wheels 0 E, and feed-rollers F f, provided with feed-belt F, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

111 testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

WILLIAM A.

Witnesses:

P. H. HARTWELL, ALFRED B. HOLCOMBE.

NAYLOR. [L. s.] 

